Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins are going to join their former Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles on The Boys in the upcoming final season, catching the attention of the dedicated audience of the highly-rated fantasy TV show. These viewers have not let Supernatural fall into the background of pop culture, and, even though the series concluded in 2020, they continuously suggest that it’s never too early for a reboot. With over 300 episodes of the beloved show, there is so much lore and worldbuilding, leading to endless opportunities for new storylines and fueling the fans’ desire to see more.
Although there are some favorite overarching plots from Supernatural, many of the beloved episodes are actually filler episodes, such as Season 4, Episode 6, “Yellow Fever,” and Season 6, Episode 15, “The French Mistake.” During a season in which the overall storyline proved to be one of the least popular in the show’s history, there is another filler episode that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It isn’t as iconic as some of the highest-rated installments, but it is an exemplary episode of Supernatural that embraces its key themes while not taking the situation too seriously, proving to be one of the most rewatchable fillers in the TV series.
“Shut Up, Dr. Phil” Is a Supernatural Marital Spat
Image via Warner Bros
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The Supernatural timeline over 15 seasons is a complex narrative that covers several major plotlines, but many fans prefer the filler episodes, often referred to as “Monster of the Week” episodes, which broke up the current overarching storyline. In Season 7, Episode 5, “Shut Up, Dr. Phil,” Dean and Sam are still trying to find a way to stop the Leviathan’s plans for humanity, but in the meantime, they’re working on regular paranormal cases. This brings them to a town called Prosperity, in which people are dying in strange ways, such as a woman being electrocuted by a salon’s hairdryer and a man being repeatedly stabbed by his own nail gun at a construction site.
It doesn’t take the Winchesters long to realize that the culprit is a witch named Maggie, targeting a local philanthropist, Don Stark. However, when Sam and Dean go to warn Don, they realize that he is also a witch, and the two are an ancient married couple who are at odds due to Don’s infidelity. The brothers fail to properly utilize a spell that would defeat Maggie and Don, but they choose to go with “Plan B,” which involves them trying to counsel the married couple, expressing their understanding, and pushing the Starks to work it out so they won’t kill any more people during their fight.
This episode of Supernatural has not received a lot of attention since its release in 2011, with many viewers writing it off as one of the forgettable “Monster of the Week” installments compared to the notable few. However, this is an unfair judgment of “Shut Up, Dr. Phil,” and the episode deserves another chance to prove to the fans that it is an impressive addition to the wider world of the Supernatural Universe. In addition to the memorable guest stars, the storyline represents some of the key themes in the show and gives the viewers a much-needed reprieve from the main plot of Season 7.
The Guest Stars Stole the Show
Image via 20th Century Television
There are very few actors and actresses who can steal the show from Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki in Supernatural, but two beloved personalities from another iconic fantasy TV show certainly caught the attention of some dedicated fans of the genre. With the Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival now in production, this is even more of a reason to see Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters back in action in the genre, especially since both of them have expressed an interest in returning to the Buffyverse for the reboot.
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In Buffy, Charisma Carpenter played Cordelia, the high school mean girl who eventually becomes a friend to the heroes, but she really stood out when the character left the original show and returned to the spin-off, Angel. James Marsters has a similar history working with the Buffyverse as the vampire Spike, becoming a major character in the later seasons of BTVS before appearing in the last couple of seasons of Angel as a main part of the investigative group. Both Carpenter and Marsters have extensive careers in TV shows and movies, but they’re best known for this franchise, which ran from 1997 to 2004.
In Supernatural’s “Shut Up, Dr. Phil,” Carpenter and Marsters do an excellent job of portraying magical beings, which isn’t a far stretch from their previous fantasy roles. Though they are ancient witches with centuries of experience, both Maggie and Don are portrayed as relatable, balancing their hidden identities with their modern lifestyles. This odd but effective characterization works well for the storyline and is exceptionally portrayed by the two guest actors, highlighting why they were the perfect choices for this pretty mundane episode of the show.
This Is an Underrated Supernatural Storyline
There are many terrifying monsters in Supernatural, but the witches often don’t get enough credit for being some of the most powerful beings on the planet, especially the older ones who are known for outwitting and outplaying the Winchesters. Maggie and Don Stark are incredible representations of these Supernatural antagonists, proving to be too powerful for Dean and Sam to defeat physically. However, the most underrated aspect of this installment is how the plot portrays these two ancient, powerful people as just another married couple (but with more deadly abilities).
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This is exemplified in the showdown between the witches and the Winchesters when the spell fails the hunters and they try to communicate with the couple, utilizing a rather mundane skill to stop the murders. Don and Maggie are having a fight because of an affair, but during the battle, they express to each other how the other person has been invalidating their feelings and making them feel less important. In this way, the couple makes up, which stops both the killings Maggie had been committing to get revenge and the witches’ desire to kill the Winchesters.
This mundane approach to this installment may be why it isn’t the most appreciated episode of Supernatural, but there is another way viewers can approach this storyline. In this world, paranormal and supernatural entities are always lurking, causing harm and destruction while still flying under the radar. A major theme in Supernatural is the creatures’ ability to blend in with society, which is highlighted in “Shut Up, Dr. Phil,” when two seemingly upstanding members of the community prove to be deadly and vengeful beings.
The Episode Was a Welcomed Season 7 Reprieve
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There are several seasons out of the 15 installments that are very controversial, but Season 7 of Supernatural divided fans in a really divisive way, causing disagreements in the fandom to this day. Though it had some exceptional qualities, such as introducing beloved supporting characters, the overarching plot is perhaps the most disliked conflict in the entire series. The Leviathan storyline did not impress most viewers, especially since it resulted in the demise of fan-favorite Bobby Singer, resulting in the overall season being dismissed as one of the worst and often one that is skipped during a rewatch.
However, there are some great episodes within this season that make it worthwhile, especially fan-favorites, such as Season 7, Episode 18, “Party On, Garth” and Season 7, Episode 20, “The Girl With the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo,” offering viewers some of the light-hearted entertainment the filler episodes of Supernatural are known for. With this in mind, it’s time for fans to give “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” a chance, keeping in mind that it is a great representation of some major themes in the show. If that isn’t enough to convince viewers the installment is worth their time, any Buffyverse fans can appreciate James Marsters and Charisma Carpenter back in a fantastical role.
An underrated theme in Supernatural is how mundane issues can become extreme situations when supernatural forces are involved, which is important worldbuilding for a series with a dark underworld of angels, demons, monsters, and magic users. Many of the filler episodes touch upon this trope, considering how these forces don’t just cause major catastrophes but increase seemingly minor issues. This episode of Supernatural doesn’t need to be taken too seriously, but it’s fun, entertaining, and honors the themes of the series, making it more impactful than most viewers recognize.